Dr. Emily Deans is a psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School. This post summarizes some of the posts on the Evolutionary Psychiatry blog and has links to further information.
2010:
Hunter gatherers are healthier than people in grain-based societies. (Link)
Lectins contribute to atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, cancer, and autoimmune disease. (Link)
Depression involves a deficiency of BDNF. (Link)
Increasing omega-3 fats and decreasing omega-6 fats can reduce inflammation and treat depression. (Link)
Chromium helps in treating atypical depression. (Link)
People eating a traditional Australian diet have lower rates of anxiety and depression than people eating a modern diet. (Link)
Saturated fat is not linked to heart disease, but polyunsaturated fats are a cause of cancer. (Link)
An excess of omega-6 fatty acids is linked to various diseases. (Link)
Grain consumption is linked to schizophrenia. (Link)
Tartrazine can increase hyperactivity. (Link)
Periodic fasting helps prevent cardiovascular disease. (Link)
Vitamin D deficiency is linked to depression. (Link)
People with anxiety have a higher incidence of cardiovascular events. (Link)
Food additives increase hyperactivity in some children. (Link)
Lithium reduces inflammation. (Link)
Low cholesterol is linked to suicide and violence. (Link)
Calorie restriction can cause psychiatric problems. (Link)
Young vegetarians have an increased risk of eating disorders. (Link)
Zinc deficiency is involved in symptoms of depression. (Link)
Zinc is useful in treating anorexia nervosa. (Link)
Zinc reduces depression and violence. (Link)
62% of stress hormone activity levels are inherited. (Link)
SAM-E is useful in treating resistant depression. (Link)
A diet avoiding malabsorbed foods improves symptoms of IBS. (Link)
Fructose malabsorption is found in depressed women and sugar intolerance is found in depressed adolescents. (Link)
Patients with borderline personality disorder have lower levels of endorphins. (Link)
A Western diet is linked to ADHD. (Link)
Yoga increases GABA levels in the brain. (Link)
Phospholipids reduce increases in ACTH and cortisol in response to stress. (Link)
Genetic polymorphisms explain why some children with ADHD react badly to food additives. (Link)
Multiple studies have found that fish consumption is associated with less dementia and higher omega-6 intake is associated with more dementia. (Link)
Reducing inflammation could help with preventing Alzheimer’s disease. (Link)
Autism is connected with inflammation. (Link)
Vitamin D deficiency could be involved with autism. (Link)
People with borderline personality disorder have higher levels of glutamate in the anterior cingulate cortex. (Link)
Some children with autism and their families have leakier guts. (Link)
Naltrexone improves some symptoms in some children with autism. (Link)
Magnesium can help treat depression. (Link)
Vitamin D deficiency is linked with a higher risk of schizophrenia. (Link)
Gluten is connected to neurological problems. (Link)
Lower B12 and higher homocysteine is associated with dementia. (Link)
Certain nitric oxide synthase genes are associated with resistant depression. (Link)
The HPA axis is dysfunctional in people with depression and anxiety. (Link)
Processed food is linked to depression and bipolar disorder. (Link)
Magnesium could protect against depression and anxiety. (Link)
Zinc deficiency is associated with depression. (Link)
Seafood consumption and fish oil help with preventing and treating acne. (Link)
Tricyclic antidepressants are associated with weight gain and SSRIs are associated with weight loss. (Link)
Creatine and coenzyme Q10 may reduce Parkinson’s symptoms. (Link)
Viral infections increase susceptibility to depression. (Link)
Selenium supplementation improves mood. (Link)
Viruses and bacteria may cause Alzheimer’s disease. (Link)
Autistic children have mitochondrial abnormalities. (Link)
Exposure to certain microorganisms may reduce depression. (Link)
2011:
Ketosis enhances cognitive function. (Link)
Ketosis may treat some symptoms of autism. (Link)
Trans fat consumption is associated with increased depression. (Link)
A high homocysteine level is associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. (Link)
A higher level of choline is associated with less inflammation. (Link)
Intestinal permeability is linked to depression. (Link)
An elimination diet can help treat symptoms of ADHD. (Link)
Low doses of lithium enhance longevity. (Link)
An excess of omega-6 fatty acids is inflammatory. (Link)
Intestinal permeability and certain neuroactive peptides are linked to bipolar disorder. (Link)
A high omega-6 to omega-3 ratio causes depressive behavior in monkeys. (Link)
Certain micronutrients improve ADHD symptoms. (Link)
Leaky gut may be a cause of chronic fatigue. (Link)
N-acetylcysteine helps treat several psychiatric conditions. (Link)
Vitamins and fatty acids can reduce violence in prisoners. (Link)
Eating disorders have addictive aspects. (Link)
Omega 3 fatty acids are satiating. (Link)
Food stimulus increases dopamine signals in the brains of binge eaters. (Link)
Higher levels of omega-6 fatty acids are associated with worse cognitive performance. (Link)
Vitamin supplements reduce violence in children. (Link)
Methylation problems are linked to autism. (Link)
People with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have more immediate relatives in creative professions. (Link)
Low cholesterol and insulin resistance are linked to Alzheimer’s disease. (Link)
Weight loss enhances prefrontal cortex function in obese women. (Link)
Lauric acid decreases hunger and sad feelings. (Link)
Certain probiotics reduce anxiety. (Link)
A low glycemic breakfast improves attention. (Link)
Hypoglycemia is connected with aggression. (Link)
Hypoglycemia is linked to psychiatric conditions. (Link)
Omega-3 supplements reduce inflammation and anxiety in students. (Link)
Military suicides have lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids. (Link)
High homocysteine is associated with anger. (Link)
Autistic children have abnormal intestinal microflora. (Link)
A high carbohydrate meal several hours before bed improves sleep onset. (Link)
There is an inverse relation between coffee consumption and depression. (Link)
B vitamins slow the rate of cognitive impairment. (Link)
Toxoplasma gondii and HSV1 increase the risk of developing schizophrenia. (Link)
Women with postpartum psychosis develop thyroid problems. (Link)
More psychiatric patients than controls screen positive for antibody exposure to Borrelia burgdorfi. (Link)
Mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation are linked to depression. (Link)
Exposure to bisphenol A is linked to anxiety and depression. (Link)
2012:
An elimination diet, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc help treat ADHD in children. (Link)
EPA and DHA are both needed in omega-3 supplements. (Link)
Vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids are linked to improved cognitive function. (Link)
Magnesium citrate helps treat fibromyalgia. (Link)
Zinc deficiency is associated with autism spectrum disorders. (Link)
Schizophrenia involves gastrointestinal inflammation. (Link)
Trans fats are associated with aggressive behavior and depression. (Link)
Inflammation is linked to mood disorders. (Link)
Chronic stress is associated with inflammation. (Link)
Mothers with an increased sensitivity to wheat have a higher risk of having offspring with schizophrenia. (Link)
Inflammation is involved in schizophrenia. (Link)
N-acetylcysteine helps treat symptoms of autism. (Link)
People eating a low fat diet have increased hostility, whereas more fat improves mood. (Link)
Women with a higher BMI have more active 5-HT4 receptors in the reward area of the brain. (Link)
